› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Medical Oncologist Suggestions – Pittsburgh and Boston
- This topic has 18 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 2 months ago by
Lil0909.
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- January 26, 2014 at 9:40 pm
Hi all!
I'm finally at the stage where I'm ready to meet with the medical oncologist. My surgical oncologist, who I think is really great, has been handling my case so far. I had a 1.25 mm mole on my arm, Clarks IV, 1/20 lymph nodes with a microsite, so Stage 3A. Mole was on my arm for approx 5 – 8 years.
First, I know I'm incredibly lucky, if you ware going to be Stage 3, only 1 microsite in 1 lymph node is awesome. But, I'm only 29; therefore, we would prefer to be more aggressive than just wait and see, if possible.
My finace and I live in Pittsburgh, PA. However, we are not originally from here, and have quite a few other cities that we can travel to and potentially live for a few months or longer if needed. My finace works for himself so we can be pretty flexible. He is from Boston, so our original thought was Boston on Pittsburgh – but we are open to other suggestions if the treatment option fits.
My surgical oncologist will set me up with a medical oncologist at either UPMC Hillman Center, or Allegheny General. At a minimum I was planning on going to Boston for a 2nd Opinion before making any final decisions on treatment (i.e. interferon).
I have read / been advised by others that I should see Dr. John Kirkwood and/or Dr. Ahmad Tarhini at UMPC, but my dr mentioned that these may not be the best dr's for me b/c of personality differences – I think he alluded to the 2 recommendations being more straight shooters, which I'm not sure is a bad thing.
I would really appreciate any advise you all can give – but specifically Pittsburgh and Boston medical oncologist recommendations.
Thanks everyone!!!
Lilly
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- January 27, 2014 at 12:43 am
UPMC is one of the foremost Melanoma treatment centers in the country. My local oncologist referred me specifically to Dr. Kirkwood, so I'm driving from over 3 1/2 hours away for appointments to consult with him about my own case.
My personal opinion (for what it's worth) is that you would be crazy for not taking advantage of such a tremendous resource, especially since you're in the area. Any Stage III Melanoma is nothing to take lightly. If I knew then (when I was Stage III) what I know now (when I'm stage IV), I would have gone to an expert like Dr. Kirkwood and asked about enrolling in some kind of Adjuvant Therapy clinical trial, possibly with one of the immunotherapies like PD1 or Ipilumimab.
And maybe, just maybe, I wouldn't be stage IV now.
Just my opinion, of course.
bj63
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- January 27, 2014 at 12:43 am
UPMC is one of the foremost Melanoma treatment centers in the country. My local oncologist referred me specifically to Dr. Kirkwood, so I'm driving from over 3 1/2 hours away for appointments to consult with him about my own case.
My personal opinion (for what it's worth) is that you would be crazy for not taking advantage of such a tremendous resource, especially since you're in the area. Any Stage III Melanoma is nothing to take lightly. If I knew then (when I was Stage III) what I know now (when I'm stage IV), I would have gone to an expert like Dr. Kirkwood and asked about enrolling in some kind of Adjuvant Therapy clinical trial, possibly with one of the immunotherapies like PD1 or Ipilumimab.
And maybe, just maybe, I wouldn't be stage IV now.
Just my opinion, of course.
bj63
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- January 27, 2014 at 12:43 am
UPMC is one of the foremost Melanoma treatment centers in the country. My local oncologist referred me specifically to Dr. Kirkwood, so I'm driving from over 3 1/2 hours away for appointments to consult with him about my own case.
My personal opinion (for what it's worth) is that you would be crazy for not taking advantage of such a tremendous resource, especially since you're in the area. Any Stage III Melanoma is nothing to take lightly. If I knew then (when I was Stage III) what I know now (when I'm stage IV), I would have gone to an expert like Dr. Kirkwood and asked about enrolling in some kind of Adjuvant Therapy clinical trial, possibly with one of the immunotherapies like PD1 or Ipilumimab.
And maybe, just maybe, I wouldn't be stage IV now.
Just my opinion, of course.
bj63
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- January 27, 2014 at 3:13 am
I agree with bj63 in that you would be crazy to not take advantage of that melanoma center in Pittsburgh. It's one of 6 melanoma treatment centers in the state. You have 4 in Philadelphia, one in Bethlehem and then the one at Pittsburgh.
Also, don't rule out Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland over in Baltimore. Those two may be closer to you than Dana Farber.
Also suggest doing research on the pros and cons of Interferon for melanoma treatment. It's got a number of nasty side effects and it's not much more effective than frequent observation. Some folks don't want to be laid up for a year feeling lousy and dealing with side effects while other feel they need to do SOMEthing. It's matter of personal choice. That being said, Interferon is becoming "old school".
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- January 27, 2014 at 12:39 pm
Boston is tops for research and doctors who specialize in melanoma. Kirkwood is known for pushing interferon and set up a phone line with nurses for interferon with the company that owns it. He is finally starting to back down on this but that's what he is known for in melanoma period this old drug.
Mass General has Keith Flaherty and others who did the pioneer work on BRAF and the newest therapies that are making patients live longer with less bad side effects.
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- January 27, 2014 at 12:39 pm
Boston is tops for research and doctors who specialize in melanoma. Kirkwood is known for pushing interferon and set up a phone line with nurses for interferon with the company that owns it. He is finally starting to back down on this but that's what he is known for in melanoma period this old drug.
Mass General has Keith Flaherty and others who did the pioneer work on BRAF and the newest therapies that are making patients live longer with less bad side effects.
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- January 27, 2014 at 12:39 pm
Boston is tops for research and doctors who specialize in melanoma. Kirkwood is known for pushing interferon and set up a phone line with nurses for interferon with the company that owns it. He is finally starting to back down on this but that's what he is known for in melanoma period this old drug.
Mass General has Keith Flaherty and others who did the pioneer work on BRAF and the newest therapies that are making patients live longer with less bad side effects.
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- January 27, 2014 at 2:34 pm
I will say that I saw Dr. Kirkwood and started on interferon a few yrs ago. He was nice, but I did not feel like he was upfront about all aspects of interferon and really did feel I was manipulated into going on the treatment ( and that under false pretenses). It was his pioneering research, so that may be part of the reason. Have never seen him for anything else, so I cannot comment outside of that.
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- January 27, 2014 at 2:34 pm
I will say that I saw Dr. Kirkwood and started on interferon a few yrs ago. He was nice, but I did not feel like he was upfront about all aspects of interferon and really did feel I was manipulated into going on the treatment ( and that under false pretenses). It was his pioneering research, so that may be part of the reason. Have never seen him for anything else, so I cannot comment outside of that.
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- January 27, 2014 at 2:34 pm
I will say that I saw Dr. Kirkwood and started on interferon a few yrs ago. He was nice, but I did not feel like he was upfront about all aspects of interferon and really did feel I was manipulated into going on the treatment ( and that under false pretenses). It was his pioneering research, so that may be part of the reason. Have never seen him for anything else, so I cannot comment outside of that.
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- January 27, 2014 at 3:13 am
I agree with bj63 in that you would be crazy to not take advantage of that melanoma center in Pittsburgh. It's one of 6 melanoma treatment centers in the state. You have 4 in Philadelphia, one in Bethlehem and then the one at Pittsburgh.
Also, don't rule out Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland over in Baltimore. Those two may be closer to you than Dana Farber.
Also suggest doing research on the pros and cons of Interferon for melanoma treatment. It's got a number of nasty side effects and it's not much more effective than frequent observation. Some folks don't want to be laid up for a year feeling lousy and dealing with side effects while other feel they need to do SOMEthing. It's matter of personal choice. That being said, Interferon is becoming "old school".
-
- January 27, 2014 at 3:13 am
I agree with bj63 in that you would be crazy to not take advantage of that melanoma center in Pittsburgh. It's one of 6 melanoma treatment centers in the state. You have 4 in Philadelphia, one in Bethlehem and then the one at Pittsburgh.
Also, don't rule out Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland over in Baltimore. Those two may be closer to you than Dana Farber.
Also suggest doing research on the pros and cons of Interferon for melanoma treatment. It's got a number of nasty side effects and it's not much more effective than frequent observation. Some folks don't want to be laid up for a year feeling lousy and dealing with side effects while other feel they need to do SOMEthing. It's matter of personal choice. That being said, Interferon is becoming "old school".
Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
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